Fisheries awaits clarity on missing tuna millions 

Fisheries authorities are still waiting for a response from the taxman in its stride to resolve concerns over millions of dollars that were unaccounted in the tuna sector.

But Fiji Revenue and Customs Service has responded to the ministry’s queries, SunBiz has since established.

As finger pointing takes centre stage in the tunagate, industry operators have fired warning shots of serious legal action, which could escalate from possible to probable “shortly”.

At the heart of the saga is the tuna stabilisation fund, which collected money from oil companies, for tuna operators who needed a leg up.

The fund is managed by the government and is estimated to earn more than $1million a year, for every year since 2015.

Industry operators estimate the outstanding sum to be around $10m in an account registered with HFC Bank.

Last week, Fisheries minister Alitia Bainivalu said she was waiting for FRCS to get back with details pertaining to the account. FRCS swiftly responded to say it had responded to the government.

Finance Minister Biman Prasad brushed off related questions from a Fiji Sun reporter during a face to face interview in the West.

“I have said whatever needed to be said,” Mr Prasad told our reporter.

But Fiji Sun is unaware of where he might have made remarks about the tuna stabilisation fund.

Feedback: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj